Preconceived Notions, and Three Ways to Learn Art

Recently we’ve been featuring many of our on-sale magazines, our newest books, and our art kits, but I wanted to make sure that you were also aware of the online instruction that ArtistsNetwork offers. It can be difficult to attend classes in person, and so streaming workshops may be an ideal option for you. Here are a few choices that you could take advantage of, starting now.

Did you know that ArtistsNetwork has a YouTube channel? It includes over 400 free videos that include painting techniques, drawing tips, exclusive interviews with artists, sneak previews of your favorite art magazines, and more.

Back Nude of R (oil, 46×30) by Sharon Sprung, instructor for ArtistsNetwork.tv. Sprung’s work was featured in The Artist’s Magazine (April 2008).

When you want a deeper level of instruction, head to ArtistsNetwork.tv, where several hundred additional videos await you. They’re organized by medium and instructor, which makes it easy to find what you’re looking for (not to mention that it’s searchable as well). New videos are added every week, and there are currently over 600 hours of workshops available. Sign up for a monthly subscription, or go for a whole year and save. Sharon Sprung, Chris Saper, and Costa Vavagiakis are included among the esteemed teachers.

Sprung, whose work is featured above, advises artists, “First, spend more time looking at the model than painting the model (click here to share this idea on Twitter). Study the subject without putting paint on the canvas; analyze the subject visually so that you know it. Second, don’t be self-critical while you’re working or, to put it in athletic terms, you’ll choke. For example, if you name elements, like ‘nose,’ ‘ear,’ ‘lip,’ and so on, while you’re painting them, preconceived notions will trap you in the idea of a nose when your job is to record the visual reality in front of you.”

In addition to the videos, we also offer live webinars that include advice on art business, tips on drawing and painting, and Q&A sessions for you to ask specific questions about your art. Some are free, and some have registration fees; all are worthwhile (past webinars are even included on this page).

So there you have it: three online options for learning how to paint and draw. As always, thank you for reading, and I’ll “see” you online! Stay tuned–tomorrow, I go back to our roots to let you know about the newest watercolor book from North Light Books.

Warm regards,
Cherie**Subscribe to the Artists Network newsletter for inspiration, instruction, and ideas, and score a free download on How to Draw People Using the Block-In Method.

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